What kinds of issues do family law attorneys handle in Orlando Florida?
Most people think of family lawyers when dealing with marriage issues, divorce, and child custody, however there are other aspects of family law. Family law is the umbrella term for the area of the law that deals with areas as diverse as divorces, prenuptial agreements, child custody and support, adoption, property division, and related issues. There are actually a number of legal issues that have at least some overlap with family law, as well as other areas like criminal law and contract law that may come into play with domestic violence or various kinds of agreements.
Practice areas of family law attorneys may include:
- marriage
- divorce
- child support
- child custody
- property disputes
- prenuptial agreements and marriage contracts
- cohabitation and common law marriages
- domestic partnership, civil unions, and same sex marriage
- paternity testing and parental rights
- surrogates and surrogate rights
- domestic violence
- guardianship and court appointed guardians
- adoption issues
- reproductive rights and abortion
This list is not exhaustive, as there may be even more unique cases that have some overlap with family law issues.
Jurisdiction and procedural issues
Each state also has specific laws related to all of these proceedings, along with national federal laws that apply to certain situations. It can sometimes be difficult to know which state’s laws will apply when people move around while these issues are pending. Therefore, it is important to speak with an attorney who is licensed in the relevant state and familiar with both the potential jurisdictional issues and the local court system. Jurisdiction often comes up when people move after a divorce, switch jobs, or need to make travel plans when they have shared custody of a child. Court permission is usually required for travel plans or moving if the parent also has custody. It is better to speak with a lawyer about procedural and jurisdictional issues first, rather than being in violation of a court order and facing civil or criminal penalties.
How do family lawyers advocate?
Like all other lawyers, family law attorneys attempt to reach a certain goal on the client’s behalf.
A family attorney usually tries to argue for their client’s best interests against the government, spouse, or other family members. This can be related to financial interests, custody and parental rights, or any of the other areas listed above where a client is trying to receive a favorable judgment. Some of the most common applications are finding an ideal agreement for property division and child custody after a divorce, advocating for parental rights after the result of a paternity test, or gaining legal protection for spouses and children who are abused in domestic violence incidents. There may be remedies in the form of damages or money paid out to one spouse, but family law also commonly deals with equitable remedies where a judge tells one party that they must do or refrain from committing certain actions. These orders are usually called injunctions in other areas of the law.
Talk to a family law attorney about any of these issues
It is not important to learn all of the specifics of family law on your own, as a family lawyer is compensated to figure these problems out on your behalf.
If you think that you may require the services of an attorney who specializes in family law, there is help available. The Aikin Family Law Group exclusively serves clients who need help solving their family problems in Orlando, Winter Park, and nearby parts of central Florida.
